Sun shade

ABSTRACT

A sun shade includes a shade material configured to inhibit light from passing through the material, the material having a trapezoidal shape when in an open state and being configured to expand from the open state to an expanded state, and an attaching mechanism configured to repeatably and releasably attach the shade to a window.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED ACTIONS

This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 10/287,311, filed Nov. 4,2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,682,121, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/400,555 filed Aug. 2, 2002 andentitled “Sun Shade Device.”

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to sun shades and more particularly to sun shadesfor automobiles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When direct sun light enters an automobile it produces some oftenundesirable effects. Some often undesirable effects include heating theinterior of the automobile, heating surfaces of the automobile, andmaking it difficult for passengers in the automobile to see or tocomfortably see, and fading colors of items in the automobile (e.g.,leather or cloth covering seats of the car). For example, cars in directsunlight may reach inside temperatures of greater than 100° F. and morethat are undesirable and even dangerous for persons, especiallychildren, animals, and other temperature-sensitive items (e.g.,batteries, low melting-point items). The components of the car'sinterior may retain the heat and create a potentially dangeroussituation and/or an uncomfortable environment. Thus, it is often usefulto block a window to obstruct the rays from entering the automobileacting as a barrier to limit/reduce the heat generated by the directsunlight. It is also often desirable to reduce direct rays of sunpassing through a window onto passengers themselves or areas that maycome in contact with the passengers.

There are shades for blocking direct sun rays from entering automobilesthat exist in the market today. For example, there are shades that maybe collapsed for storage and expanded for use. These shades may be,e.g., cardboard that folds or a plastic containing wires or rods thatbias the shade toward an expanded condition. Other shades provide aretractable blind that can be rolled up for storage andextended/unrolled for use. Still other shades comprise a sheet of tintedyet transparent material of a square or rectangular shape. Shades forside or rear windows of a car typically are shaped as rectangles orovals and are made from vinyl or textile materials. Current shadestypically cover a portion of a window and can be positioned to try toinhibit rays from reached a particular spot inside the automobile, e.g.,a child's face. For example, many shades can be affixed to a side orrear window using suction cups that include metal components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general, in an aspect, the invention provides a sun shade including ashade material configured to inhibit light from passing through thematerial, the material having a trapezoidal shape when in an open stateand being configured to expand from the open state to an expanded state,and an attaching mechanism configured to repeatably and releasablyattach the shade to a window.

Implementations of the invention may include one or more of thefollowing features. The shade material is configured to be stretchedbi-directionally. The shade material is configured to be stretchedbi-directionally at least about 10% in any direction. The shade materialis configured to be stretched bi-directionally at least about 30% in anydirection. The attaching mechanism comprises a plurality of componentsdisposed adjacent respective corners of the shade material. Theattaching mechanism comprises a plurality of suction cups. The materialis configured to accommodate a first arrangement of fastening devicesdisposed in a trapezoidal configuration with the material in the openstate and to accommodate a second arrangement of fastening devicesdisposed in a rectangular configuration with the material in the openstate.

Implementations of the invention may also include one or more of thefollowing features. The attaching mechanism comprises a hook-shaped clipcoupled to the material and extending beyond a perimeter of thematerial, the clip being configured to snugly receive an edge of anautomobile window. The attaching mechanism comprises at least one tackymember configured to stick to the window. The at least on tacky membercomprises a plurality of tacky members disposed adjacent an edge of thematerial and displaced from each other. The shade may further comprise atemperature indicator. The temperature indicator comprises athermochromatic ink. The shade is substantially free of metalcomponents. The attaching mechanism is configured to attach the materialto the window in a trapezoidal or a rectangular configuration with thematerial being taut between at least portions of the attaching mechanismused to attach the material to the window in the respectiveconfiguration.

In general, in another aspect, the invention provides a sun shade foruse with an automobile window, the shade including a material configuredto inhibit sunlight from passing through the material, and a temperatureindicator coupled to the material and configured to provide a visibleindication of temperature.

Implementations of the invention may include one or more of thefollowing features. The material is configured to be bi-axiallyexpandable and has a trapezoidal shape. The shade further includes acoupling apparatus coupled to the material and configured to berepeatedly attached to and detached from a window. The shade is free ofmetal disposed for direct contact by a person. The coupling apparatus isconfigured to attach the material to the window at at least four firstpositions in a rectangular arrangement with the material stretched tautbetween the at least four first positions and to attach the material tothe window at at least four second positions in a trapezoidalarrangement with the material stretched taut between the at least foursecond positions.

Various aspects of the invention may provide one or more of thefollowing advantages. A sun shade can be easily fitted to a variety ofsizes and shapes of windows (e.g., both front and rear side windows ofautomobiles) to inhibit rays of sun from entering an automobile (i.e.,not all rays incident upon the shade will pass through the shade). A sunshade can be adjusted to cover substantially all, and possibly all, of awindow to inhibit light from passing through the window and into anautomobile. Heat produced due to sunlight can be reduced, e.g., withinan interior of an automobile including surfaces of items in theautomobile. Greater portions of a window can be screened than withprevious sun shades. Indications of temperature, e.g., inside anautomobile, may be provided on a sun shade. Sun rays may be inhibited,including ultraviolet (UV) rays, from passing through a sun shade. A sunshade may be provided that is easy and compact to store. A sun shade foruse on automobile windows for seats where children will ride may beprovided with child-safe materials. A single sun shade may be adaptedand fit to different windows, including windows on opposite sides of anautomobile. A sun shade can be reused and adapted for a variety ofshapes of windows.

These and other advantages of the invention, along with the inventionitself, will be more fully understood after a review of the followingfigures, detailed description, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a top view of a sun shade using four fastening devices forattachment to a window.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a portion of the shade, including a fasteningdevice of the shade, shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the shade shown in FIG. 1 affixed to anautomobile window in a relaxed state.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the shade shown in FIG. 1 affixed to anautomobile window in a fitted, stretched state.

FIGS. 5–8 are portions of top views of shades showing exemplarymechanisms/configurations for attaching shades to windows.

FIG. 9 is a top view of a sun shade showing exemplary temperatureindicating mechanisms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

At least some embodiments of the invention provide techniques forinhibiting sunlight. For example, sun shades are provided that canreduce sunlight from reaching selected regions, e.g., interiors ofautomobiles, through windows. Embodiments of the invention use abi-axially stretchable/expandable yet resilient material that can bestretched beyond its normal resting shape to cover more of a window,e.g., to substantially conform to a shape of a window that the shade isto cover, and can be attached, e.g., to the window. Such embodimentswill retake their original shapes when removed, e.g., from the windowand can be repeatedly stretched, preferably without substantiallyaffecting the shades' normal resting shapes.

Referring to FIG. 1, a sun shade 10 comprises an expandable, resilientmaterial 12 and fastening devices 14, here four suction cups, forfastening the shade 10 to a window. The material 12 isexpandable/stretchable, and preferably bi-axially expandable from itsfully open, unbiased shape, and to return to substantially its unbiasedshaped after being expanded. There may be some permanent expansion ofthe material 12 after being stretched/expanded. The material 12 is alsocapable of inhibiting, but preferably not completely blocking, at leastvisible light from passing through the material 12. Thus, preferablypersons may look through the material 12 while the material 12 providessome sunlight-inhibiting properties, e.g., visible light inhibitingand/or ultraviolet light inhibiting properties.

The material 12 can be any of a variety of materials that can expandbeyond its normal, resting position, in which the shade is not biased tospan a larger area, and can inhibit sunlight. For example, the material12 may be a nylon and rubber mesh that provides a bi-axially expandablematerial with resiliency to return the shade 10 to its original, orsubstantially to its original, shape when not forced to a larger shape.Preferably, if the material 12 is a mesh it is configured to stretch toaccommodate different window sizes while still providing adequateshading. Also preferably, the material 12 can expand or be bi-axiallystretched in any direction at least about 105% of its restingmeasurement along that direction. Even more preferably, the material 12can be stretched at least about 110% of its resting length ormeasurement in any direction. Even more preferably, the material 12 canbe stretched up to at least about 140% of its resting length in anydirection, or more if desired. There is no theoretical maximumpercentage of resting length that the material 12 should not beconfigured to be stretched to, as long as the shade 10 can still provideadequate shading characteristics, will still be able to be attached to awindow, and will return to substantially its resting length after beingstretched.

The material 12 has a shape configured to help fit the shade 10 towindows, e.g., automobile side windows. As shown, in a fully openresting state (non-biased/stretched) the shade 10 has a trapezoidalshape (with curved corners), although other shapes (e.g. square) andconfigurations of corners (e.g., sharp) are acceptable. This shape isconfigured to help the shade 10 fit automobile windows, e.g., automobileside windows, or combinations of side windows, that have trapezoidal ornearly trapezoidal shapes. The shade 10 is preferably sized to besmaller than typical windows to which the shade will be fit to allow theshade to be stretched to custom fit the window. For example, the shade10 may be about 16–20 inches wide along its top, about 20–24 inches widealong its bottom, and about 12–14 inches high. The shade 10 may,however, accommodate windows that are smaller than the shade 10, in anyor all dimensions (e.g., length, width) of the shade 10. Preferably, theshade 10 is free of metal, or at least significant amounts of metal ormetal that is disposed such that it could be touched, as such metalcomponents can heat up and be hazardous touch (e.g., to an infant, pet,or adult).

The fastening devices 14 are positioned near a periphery of the shade 10and preferably in selected positions to help retain the shade 10 in adesired expanded shape. As shown, the devices 14 are disposed in atrapezoidal layout near the four corners of the trapezoid formed by thematerial 12 in its unexpanded shape. As shown in FIG. 2, the fasteningdevices are preferably, though not required to be, made of a singlepiece of deformable plastic with a cup portion 16 having a restingdiameter 18, a neck portion 20 of a diameter 22, and a top portion 24 ofa diameter 26. As shown, the diameters 18 and 26 of the cup 16 and thetop 24 are larger than the diameter 22 of the narrowed neck 20. Thematerial 12 is provided with holes 28, preferably reinforced such aswith stitching, (with diameters 30 of about the diameter 22 of the neck20, but that can be expanded to allow the devices 14, e.g., the tops 24,to be inserted through the holes 28. Alternatively, grommets may beattached, e.g., welded, to the material 12 about the holes 28, or othermechanical structures may be attached to the material 12 to reinforcethe holes 28. Thus, to assemble the shade 10, the tops 24 of the devices14 are inserted though the holes 28 until the necks 20 receive thematerial 12. The fastening devices 14 can be removed and reversed toallow the shade 10 to accommodate a window on an opposite side of a car.Further, the material 12, in addition to or in place of the fasteningdevices 14, may be configured to attach to a window, e.g., if thematerial 12 is a tacky material such as a tacky vinyl.

In operation, referring to FIGS. 3–4, with further reference to FIGS.1–2, a process for fitting the shade 10 to an automobile window (forexemplary purposes only) is shown. As shown in FIG. 3, the shade 10 isplaced against a window 40. Preferably, one corner, here the upper rightcorner is placed adjacent the corresponding corner of the window 40 andthe fastening device 14, is affixed to the window 40. As shown in FIG.3, the shade 10 does not fully occupy the window 40. Thus, the otherfastening devices 14 ₂–14 ₄ are moved toward their respective corners ofthe window 40 as indicated by arrows 42, 44, 46 to stretch/expand theshade 10 to an expanded state. The devices 14 ₂–14 ₄ may be moved bygrasping and moving (e.g., pulling) on the devices 14 themselves or bygrasping and stretching the material 12. Multiple expanded states of theshade 10 are possible by stretching the shade 10 different amountsand/or in different directions. With the shade 10 in an expanded statefit to the window 40 as shown in FIG. 4, the fastening devices 14 ₂–14 ₄can be fastened to (pressed against) the window 40. If the fasteningdevices 14 are removable from the material 12, then the devices 14 canbe removed, reversed, and reinserted through the material 12, and theshade 10 attached to a mirror-image window, e.g., on an opposite side ofthe automobile.

Other embodiments are within the scope and spirit of the appendedclaims.

Referring to FIGS. 5–7, various techniques may be provided for attachingsun shades to windows. These figures provide examples, although not anexhaustive list, of possibilities for techniques for attaching sunshades to windows.

As shown in FIG. 5, a shade 50 includes a laminate 52 disposed near atop of the shade 50 and attached, e.g., bonded, to shade material 54.The laminated 52 is configured to repeatably and releasably attach to awindow and is preferably configured to stretch with the material 54. Asimilar laminate may be provided near the bottom of the shade 50 toattach the bottom of the shade 50 to the window. Alternatively, otherattachment mechanisms, such as suction cups, or adhesive strips shown inFIG. 6, may be used at the bottom of the shade 50.

Referring to FIG. 6, a shade 60 includes a set of mechanisms 62 forrepeatably and releasably attaching to a window. The mechanisms 62 maybe adhesive strips or other acceptable materials for providing thedesired capabilities. The mechanisms 62 are separated from each other bygaps 66 to help allow the shade 60 to be stretched to accommodatedifferent desired sizes of the shade 60 and to attach to a window. A setof adhesive strips may be provided near the bottom of the shade 60 toattach the bottom of the shade 60 to the window. Alternatively, otherattachment mechanisms, such as suction cups, or a laminate strip similarto that shown in FIG. 5, may be used at the bottom of the shade 60.

Referring to FIG. 7, a shade 70 includes clips 72 (here, two hook-shapedclips 72) connected to a stretchable shade material 74 near a top 76 ofthe material. The clips 72 may be, e.g., welded or bonded to thematerial 74. The clips 72 are configured to fit over a top of a window,e.g., an automobile window without interfering with closing of theautomobile window. For example, the clips 72 may be configured tofriction fit to a window, e.g., by having receptacles 78 with widthsslightly less (e.g., 0.005 inches) than the width of a window to whichthe shade 70 will be attached. The clips 72 may be, e.g., rubber, vinyl,polyethelyne, other plastics, metals, etc. A variety of mechanisms maybe used near a bottom of the shade 70, e.g., a laminate as shown in FIG.5, a set of adhesive strips as shown in FIG. 6, or suction cups as shownin FIG. 1. Combinations of these are also possible.

Still other configurations of other attaching mechanisms, or theattaching mechanisms shown and discussed are possible. For example,referring to FIG. 8, a shade 102 is configured similarly to the shade 10shown in FIG. 1 except that another hole 100 (e.g., reinforced) isprovided for removing one of the fastening devices 14, e.g., the device14 ₃, and inserting the device 14 ₃ through the hole 100. As shown, thehole 100 is disposed such that the hole 100 and the fastening devices 14₁, 14 ₂, 14 ₄ provide four corners of a rectangle with the shade 10 in arelaxed (non-stretched, non-biased) state. This configuration may behelpful to fit the shade 10 to a rectangularly shaped (non-trapezoidal)window. Alternatively, another (here fifth) fastening device 14 may beprovided in the hole 100, which may or may not be used as desired whenfitting the shade 10 to a trapezoidal window.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the shade 102 may have a perforation 104. Auser may tear the shade 102 along the perforation 104 to change theresting shape of the shade 102 from trapezoidal to rectangular, e.g., ifthe shade 102 will be primarily used for rectangular windows.

Referring to FIG. 9, a sun shade 80 includes temperature indicators 82,84, 86. As shown, the temperature indicators 82, 84, 86, 88 can bedisposed at various locations relative to a material 90, including on afastening device 92 (for the indicator 84, and with only one fasteningdevice shown). The indicators 82, 84, 86, 88 can be configured in avariety of ways, e.g., using thermochromatic ink configured to changedcolors and/or opacity in response to temperature change. For example,the ink may turn from opaque to clear, or from one color to another(e.g., from blue to white), or vice versa in response to increases intemperature above one or more thresholds, or likewise in response todecreases in temperature below one or more thresholds. The indicators82, 84, 86, 88 may also be configured as liquid crystal polymers orthermocouples or thermistors and electronic displays. Thermochromaticink indicators may be disposed on the material 12 and/or the fasteningdevices 14.

The indicators 82, 84, 86, 88 may have a variety of appearances forproviding visible indications of temperature. For example, possibleappearances include incremental numbers like the indicator 82, a singlecolor such as the indicator 84 (configured to change e.g., from white tored when the temperature exceeds a threshold), a bar graph such as theindicator 86 (that may provide incremental or continuous temperatureindicia), a thermometer bulb such as the indicator 88, or others. Thus,for example, using a thermochromatic ink and a thermometer bulbappearance, more red may appear on the depicted thermometer bulb or onthe indicator 86 as the temperature rises, e.g., continuously or inincrements. For the indicator 82, the various temperatures may changecolor (e.g., from white to red) as each of the temperatures is reached.Although four indicators 82, 84, 86, 88 are shown, typically only oneindicator will appear on any given shade, although multiple indicatorsare acceptable. Still other appearances may be used, such as graphicalimages showing temperatures unsafe for children and/or pets, or changingfrom a happy face to a sad or sweating face when the temperature exceedsa threshold or acceptable limit.

Still other embodiments are within the scope and spirit of the appendedclaims. For example, the material 12 can be made of Spandex®, Lycra®,woven or knit nylon or nylon blends, including nylon and rubber blends,(such as used for women's hosiery), vinyl acetate with a softeningplasticizer, other plastics, etc. The material may be expandable in asingle direction, but is preferably stretchable in any direction in theplane of the material 12. The suction cups 14 may be made in a varietyof ways. For example, pieces may be placed on opposite sides of thematerial 12 and welded together (e.g., with a sonic weld or a heatweld), and may be connected with adhesive or bonded together. Many othertechniques for connecting two such pieces are commonly available.Further, other quantities than shown of fastening devices (e.g., 6, 8,etc.) may be used.

1. A sun shade for use with and mounting to a side or rear automobilewindow, the shade comprising: a material configured to inhibit sunlightfrom passing through the material while allowing sufficient light topass through the material such that a person can see through thematerial; and a temperature indicator that is configured to provide avisible indication of temperatures and is connected to said material; acoupling apparatus coupled to the material and configured to berepeatedly attached to and detached from a window, said temperatureindicator being provided on said coupling apparatus; and wherein the sunshade is configured to attach to the side or rear automobile window. 2.The sun shade of claim 1, wherein the temperature indicator is selectedfrom the group consisting of thermochromatic indicators, liquid crystalpolymers, and electronic displays.
 3. The shade of claim 1, wherein thematerial is configured to be bi-axially expandable and has a trapezoidalshape.
 4. The shade of claim 1, wherein the shade is free of metaldisposed for direct contact by a person.
 5. The sun shade of claim 1,wherein the visible indication of temperature indicates whether atemperature in the automobile is unsafe for occupancy of an automobile.6. A sun shade for use with and mounting to a side or rear automobilewindow, the shade comprising: a material configured to inhibit sunlightfrom passing through the material while allowing sufficient light topass through the material such that a person can see through thematerial; and a temperature indicator that is configured to provide avisible indication of temperatures and is connected to said material,said temperature indicator being selected from the group consisting ofthermochromatic indicators, liquid crystal polymers, and electronicdisplays; and wherein the sun shade is configured to attach to the sideor rear automobile window.
 7. The shade of claim 6 wherein the materialis configured to be bi-axially expandable and has a trapezoidal shape.8. The shade of claim 6 further comprising a coupling apparatus coupledto the material and configured to be repeatedly attached to and detachedfrom a window.
 9. The shade of claim 8 wherein the coupling apparatus isconfigured to attach the material to the window at at least four firstpositions in a rectangular arrangement with the material stretched tautbetween the at least four first positions and to attach the material tothe window at at least four second positions in a trapezoidalarrangement with the material stretched taut between the at least foursecond positions.
 10. The sun shade of claim 8, wherein said temperatureindicator is provided on said coupling apparatus.
 11. The shade of claim6 wherein the shade is free of metal disposed for direct contact by aperson.
 12. The sun shade of claim 6 wherein the visible indication oftemperature indicates whether a temperature in the automobile is unsafefor occupancy of an automobile.